PDP Senators End Hostilities, Endorse Jonathan For Second Term

Senators on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who had last week threatened to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan threw their weight behind the president’s re-election bid on Tuesday.

The change of stance followed the president’s truce meeting with the aggrieved senators last Thursday during which some of the senators said the president along with the National Working Committee (NWC) members of the PDP offered to give return tickets to at least two of them from each state.

The senators, who boycotted plenary throughout last week, had alleged betrayal by the president following their losses at the November 1 ward congresses of the party in their various states and therefore threatened to shut down Jonathan’s government until he addressed their grievances.

Announcing the endorsement on behalf of federal lawmakers on Tuesday during the president’s declaration at Eagles Square, Abuja, Senate President, David Mark, said the president did not only have the support of PDP senators but also had the backing of the entire National Assembly caucus of the PDP.

According to Mark, who led the National Assembly caucus of the party to the declaration, Jonathan has demonstrated trust, dedication and steadfastness to the service of Nigeria, adding that the endorsement of “Mr. President was based on his people-centred transformation programme needed to be executed to its logical conclusion.”

He outlined revolution in agriculture, aviation, power, telecommunications and education, among others, as the areas that need to be consolidated by the administration of Jonathan for the good of all citizens.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, Mark said Jonathan’s endorsement was in conformity with advanced democracies of the world where performing incumbent office holders are given the right of first refusal to re-contest.

Mumeh said Mark was of the opinion that the laudable programmes initiated by President Jonathan might be truncated if he declines to continue in office.

The National Assembly, he promised, would continue to support and provide the needed legislative framework for the executive under Jonathan to continue to deliver the dividends of democracy to the Nigerian people.

The media aide added that Mark acknowledged the unabating security challenges facing Nigeria and expressed optimism that the problem was surmountable if every Nigerian drops the toga of ethnicity, religion or political affiliation and resolve to work together to end the menace.

The senate president therefore pleaded with all Nigerians to close ranks and fight on a common front to defeat the terrorists putting asunder our peace, progress and unity.

He stressed that there is no challenge we cannot overcome as a people if we work together for our common destiny and future.

Mark counselled security operatives not to be deterred by some shortcomings in their operations but should rather spur them for greater action to defeat terrorists as all right thinking Nigerians are behind them in prayer.